Illegal Firearms: Court Grants Ex-NSA Dasuki Bail On Self-Recognition

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday granted Rtd Col. Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser (NSA) charged with illegal possession of firearms, bail on self-recognition.

The Federal Government, on Tuesday,through the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Diri, arraigned Dasuki, the immediate past NSA before Justice Adeniyi Ademola on a one-count of illegal possession of firearms.

The offence is said to violate the provisions of Section 27 (1) (a)(i) of the Firearms Act, Cap F 28, Laws, 2004 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Justice Ademola, in a short ruling on Dasuki’s bail application, which was not opposed by the prosecution, granted him bail on self-recognition after he pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read out to him.

The judge, however, ordered the accused to deposit his diplomatic passport and all his travelling documents to the Deputy Registrar, Litigation, as the sole condition for the bail.

Ademola further ordered that the travelling documents of the accused in possession of any government agency be retrieved and deposited with the court registry.

Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, who led a team of other lawyers, including Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, for the accused had, while moving the bail application, argued that Dasuki needed to be on bail to be able to defend himself effectively and that the offence was bailable.

Diri, who said he was not opposed to the prosecution’s bail application, left the issue of bail at the discretion of the court to decide.

The Street Journal recalls that the alleged illegal firearms for which the ex-NSA is being prosecuted were allegedly recovered from his residence in Asokoro, Abuja, following his sack and a
search conducted by personnel of the Department of State Services, DSS.

Justice Ademola adjourned the case till October 26 and 27 for the commencement of the trial of the accused.